A quick recap, the previous car was a sales success and rightly so. Although it wasn’t that quick but it drove well and it was something car enthusiasts can actually afford without risking bankruptcy. It suffers a torque dip, ride is somewhat over-sprung and the cabin is noisy. The original BRZ and GT86 is ultimately a driver’s car so let’s find out if all of its edges have been addressed in the new car.
The BRZ sits low like a sports car should where the driver is more connected to what’s underneath. There’s no distracting nonsense like multiple touchscreens or tech gimmicks that causes accidents. Seats are supportive and the steering reaches far out to provide an excellent driving position. Adjustments are manual and no seat memory which are great because they will never malfunction.
PRO
Rewarding to drive
Daily driving
Running costs
Good value
CON
Tighten the screws please
SPECIFICATION
2-litre inline-4
228hp 250Nm
6-speed automatic
0-100 km/h: 7.4s
Top speed: 220 km/h
A$ 50,000
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With not much metal, the new BRZ feels at home in both the city and mountain roads. Weighing in at about 1250 kilograms, there’s not much mass to move, naturally it feels marvellous around bends. Steering is direct and confidence inspiring which lets you explore the limits of grip. Unlike many modern cars, traction control can be fully disengaged to let the rear loose.
Space is more than enough for two with a rear bench and decent sized boot. Compared to an MX5, the ride is stiffer which comes with less body roll. Both have a good balance of comfort and agility just tuned differently to suit the palate of their buyers. More room in the BRZ gives an airier feeling while the MX5 has a slightly more upscale and cohesive interior. Both are true sports cars and it only boils down to whether or not to drop the top.
I have no complaints on the ride quality as this can surely be used as a daily car. Road noise does make itself present in the cabin which seems to be a problem for coupes, even in a 911. It is a must to get a manual in a car like this one but I am truly surprised by how good this torque converter automatic is so don’t be too bothered by your choice of transmission. Yes it is a little hesitant on downshifts and not all that fast on the ups but if you have no interest in perfecting the art of three-pedal driving, this automatic is fine.
Be it in the suburbs or on the freeway, it is no slouch on the straights. The excitement that comes from a naturally aspirated engine is one thing that’s very much missed. The auto and manual does 0-100km/h in about 7.4 and 6.6 seconds respectively so it begs to wonder if anyone needs more speed in a country with strict driving laws. There are artificial sounds being played but I don’t mind it one bit, if anything it makes the car more exciting.
Drawbacks? I was surprised by squeaks coming from the front seats and rattles from the centre stack since Japanese cars are known for longevity. That aside, its spare tyre eats into boot space which makes it tougher to fit longer, less flexible items. Then again, if I could live an entire year with an MX5 RF, the BRZ should be more than enough.
On this side of the world, I’m unsure of why the GR86 has a commanding premium of A$ 5,000 for the manual car. Good news for auto buyers but it still is a thousand more than the Subaru equivalent. Toyota representative says there’s sufficient tuning done on their car to justify but I doubt much of that could be felt. My suspicion is that they are doing it because they can. Despite that, a dedicated rear-wheel drive sports car at these prices still is exceptional value.
Unlike expensive coupes, I wouldn’t be too worried to park next to everyone else near the shops. I wouldn’t be too concerned about the costs of brakes and tyres. Also it doesn’t cost a bomb to insure, service and fuel the car with 98 octane.
The BRZ is a good looking car that doesn’t piss the neighbours off without being over the top. It drives extremely well, it is sufficiently practical and has most modern technology that everyone wants so what’s not to like? It is a shame that the BRZ/86 lineage dies here in favour of more efficient or electric vehicles.